Apple’s new M1-powered MacBooks have made a whole lot of noise in the industry since their launch just a month ago, but according to a new rumor, we’ve just scratched the surface of what Apple’s new silicon can do. Bloomberg reports that Apple is hard at work on the chips that will power the next round of Apple silicon Macs and the top-of-the-line version could have as many as 32 high-performance cores.
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| Read more »If you’re one of many who’ve cursed the year 2020 more times than you can count, Netflix hears you. The streaming giant just announced Death to 2020, a “comedy event” from the creators of Black Mirror that features some huge names. The announced cast...
| Read more »Bloomberg:
Chip engineers at the Cupertino, California-based technology giant are working on several successors to the M1 custom chip, Apple’s first Mac main processor that debuted in November. If they live up to expectations, they will significantly outpace the performance of the latest machines running Intel chips, according to people familiar with the matter who asked not to be named because the plans aren’t yet public.
And:
Intel’s shares slid 1.7% in early trading in New York Monday after the news.
My gut is to be skeptical that Apple can build a chip that can take on a PC with a discrete GPU. But the M1 has definitely under promised and over delivered, crushing all my expectations.
And:
Apple engineers are also developing more ambitious graphics processors. Today’s M1 processors are offered with a custom Apple graphics engine that comes in either 7- or 8-core variations. For its future high-end laptops and mid-range desktops, Apple is...
| Read more »Denmark hasn’t been shy about moving to a greener future, and that now includes casting off a large part of its fossil fuel legacy. The Press Association and Greenpeace report that the Danish Parliament has voted to end all offshore oil and gas pumpi...
| Read more »Rob Griffiths did as the title suggested, launched 75 apps on the M1 in an effort to see how that impacted the M1 MacBook Pro. Read the post, amazing to me how brilliantly the M1 Macs handle what people are throwing at it.
Also worth reading, Rob’s followup post, a more comprehensive review on the M1 MacBook Pro.
A bit of a spoiler:
I’ve had my M1 MacBook Pro for a few weeks now, and I can confidently say this is the best-performing Mac laptop I’ve ever owned—and not just because of its benchmark scores. It’s that the entire system has been designed to take advantage of Apple’s homebuilt powerful but low-power CPU. As I use the machine, I have to keep reminding myself that it’s the basically the lowest-end ARM chipped Mac you’ll ever be able to buy.
I’m still loving my M1 MacBook Air, can’t wait to see what Apple rolls out to bring the...
| Read more »Apple Music hit the scene a few years back and, in the time since, has become a huge competitor in the streaming market. Now, Google Assistant speakers are adding full support for Apple Music.
The post Apple Music is now available on Google Assistant speakers, smart displays appeared first on 9to5Mac.
| Read more »Back in July, we heard reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predict that iPhone would gain periscope lenses as soon as 2022. A report followed in November saying the same. As we’re about to close out 2020, we’ve got a third report corroborating the tech that could allow Apple to bring up to 10x optical zoom to iPhone cameras should debut in the next couple of years.
The post Third report adds weight to iPhone getting 10x optical zoom appeared first on 9to5Mac.
| Read more »[VIDEO] This is a beta app, not yet released, but the concept is promising.
Watch the video embedded in the main Loop post to get a basic sense of the app, called Magico. I do like the idea of gestures (think this scene from Minority Report) as a way to control your Apple TV, replacing the simple (but low discoverability) remote.
Interesting.
| Read more »Every time I hear the Gruber-coined term claim chowder, I think of this post:
“Is Apple serious competition?: Palm CEO Ed Colligan seems downright nonchalant about rumors that Apple may introduce a mobile phone to market in the coming year.”
And:
“We’ve learned and struggled for a few years here figuring out how to make a decent phone,” he said. “PC guys are not going to just figure this out. They’re not going to just walk in.”
Delicious.
Now follow the headline link, where Jean-Louis Gassée shares some Apple Arm claim chowder. Not quite as momentous as that original, quoted above, but an interesting read, nonetheless.
Side note: I find it interesting that “Claim Chowder” has an entry in Urban...
| Read more »It’s hard to imagine Apple and Google playing nice on a device, but that can be the case starting today. That is, for music streaming, anyway. Google announced today that Apple Music is now rolling out to Assistant-enabled speakers and displays like...
| Read more »Holiday photo books have always been well-received gifts, whether it’s photos of the vacations and other fun experiences you’ve had with your significant other, or photos of your kids as a present for their grandparents. But they also take some time and effort to put together.
We noted back in October that Motif – the company which previously made photo books under Apple branding – had been updated with a number of features designed to make it quicker and easier to create to turn the iPhone shots in your Photos app into a printed photo book. Since the company is also repeating its 30% discount for 9to5Mac readers, I took it out for...
| Read more »[VIDEO] The ad embedded in the main Loop post highlights six Apple Originals.
The ad itself is well crafted, great use of text editing to hammer home various points. Well done.
But I do wonder, why these six? Why not Long Way Up? On the Rocks? Mythic Quest: Raven’s Banquet? Home Before Dark?
As I look through the list of Apple TV+ content branded as Apple Originals, I do wonder why these six were chosen. But I also marvel at how big the Apple TV+ catalog has grown in just a bit more than a year.
Apple has quietly built a strong competitor to Netflix, et al. A competitor that will bring more and more people into the fold, make a growing contribution to Apple’s services revenue.
Tip of the cap, Apple.
| Read more »Ford’s long-running Miami self-driving car tests might just prove vital during the pandemic. The automaker, Argo AI and The Education Fund are running an eight-week pilot program that uses autonomous Fusion Hybrid cars to deliver fresh produce to Mia...
| Read more »Enables you to turn off the inclusion of cloud-synced items in the Recent Folders and Recent Files menus. ($34.95 new, free update, 15.7 MB, macOS 10.10+)
| Read more »Delivery times tracked by investment bank JP Morgan continue to suggest that demand is outpacing supply for the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max, but not the lower-priced counterparts.Credit: Andrew O'Hara, AppleInsiderIn an iPhone availability tracker note seen by AppleInsider, analyst Samik Chatterjee says JP Morgan is continuing to see building lead times — the time it takes for a customer to receive an iPhone order — for the two Pro models.
| Read more »Electric cars are undeniably the way of the future, but a company called Lunaz has been bringing that technology to older, classic vehicles like the Jaguar XK120 and Rolls-Royce Phantom V. As of today, the company is expanding its lineup to include R...
| Read more »Apple is planning a series of new Mac processors for introduction as early as 2021 that are aimed at outperforming Intel's fastest. From a report: Chip engineers at the Cupertino, California-based technology giant are working on several successors to the M1 custom chip, Apple's first Mac main processor that debuted in November. If they live up to expectations, they will significantly outpace the performance of the latest machines running Intel chips, according to people familiar with the matter who asked not to be named because the plans aren't yet public. Apple's M1 chip was unveiled in a new entry-level MacBook Pro laptop, a refreshed Mac mini desktop and across the MacBook Air range. The company's next series of chips, planned for release as early as the spring and later in the fall, are destined to be placed across upgraded versions of the MacBook Pro, both entry-level and high-end iMac desktops, and later a new Mac Pro workstation, the people said.
[...] The current M1...
| Read more »The iPhone 11 is still a fantastic phone, so we understand if you’re going to hold onto it for a little longer. And now you have a little extra peace of mind: Apple as launched a new repair program that will effectively extend the warranty of your display by an extra year.
The iPhone 11 Display Module Replacement Program for Touch Issue covers iPhone 11 models manufactured between November 2019 and May 2020 and covers displays that “may stop responding to touch due to an issue with the display module.” The issue does not extend to the Pro models.
Apple has launched a support site that includes a serial number checker to see if your phone is one of the affected devices. If it’s eligible, you can contact Apple to get the display fixed for free via one of the following methods:
...
| Read more »Apple’s in-house silicon could scale well beyond the eight-core (or rather four-plus-four-core) M1 you find in entry-level Macs. Bloomberg sources claim Apple’s 2021 roadmap is considerably more aggressive, to the point where the company is reportedl...
| Read more »Apple Music is available in 167 countries around the globe. However, what users pay for an Apple Music subscription varies widely from country to country – especially when you take the national average salary into account.
A new study by CashNetUSA — state-licensed online lender that offers payday loans, installment loans and line of credit products — compared subscription costs and salaries to find which countries are getting the best deal for Apple Music in 2020. Key findings include:
India is the cheapest place for Apple Music in absolute terms, with a subscription of approximately US$1.32.
Danish Apple Music costs the most, at $15.50 for an individual monthly subscription.
The best deal compared to the local salary is in Bermuda, where a...
This week's HomeKit Insider is replete with new products to discuss, a detailed review of the Wemo Wi-Fi Outdoor Smart Plug, and our holiday gift guide, too. We've also got a special announcement for next week's episode.HomeKit Insider: A new AppleInsider podcastThere have been so many new HomeKit devices and updates, you'd think a big holiday buying season was upon us. Just for starters, the Flic 2 button added HomeKit support, Ecobee added HomeKit Secure Video to its camera, Meross added HomeKit to its dimmer switch and filament bulb, and HomePass has launched on the Mac.
| Read more »An Apple One services bundle? iPhone Upgrade Program. The analysts at Loup Ventures thinks this is just the beginning and that Apple will offer a “360° bundle” hardware subscription offering. The research group says you should “think of this as paying a monthly fee to Apple for most of your tech needs.”
“Both hardware subscriptions and the subsequent 360° bundle align with two macro trends: an ongoing digital transformation and changing consumer buying preferences,” writes Loup Ventures. “Additionally, Apple is the only company that can make this work, given their service and maintenance logistics, along with seamless hardware and software integration.”
Today, about 55% of the company’s revenue can be purchased as a subscription. Loup Ventures says that, by adding Mac, iPad, and Watch subscriptions, that number will approach 85%. The research group doesn’t offer a prediction on what a...
| Read more »The iPads that Apple released this year are its most viable laptop replacements yet, and the company’s Magic Keyboard is arguably the best accessory to get if you plan on using your tablet as such. But with the keyboard’s eye-watering price tag, it’s...
| Read more »Starting a podcast can be rewarding, but daunting if you’re new to the medium. That’s why Podsite is the top-rated podcast publishing platform on Product Hunt, giving you all of the tools to create and maintain a popular podcast. It’s on sale today, with a one-year plan just $29.99 and five-year subscription for $99.99.
Make a website for your podcast in a minute. Podsite is the all-in-one platform to build a beautiful online presence for your podcast. It offers unlimited SEO optimized pages for your podcast episodes. More than just a site, it automatically pulls the latest episodes from your RSS feed and creates a dedicated page for...
| Read more »2020 has been a crazy year, and you certainly don’t need hackers adding to your woes. That’s why virtual private networks — VPNs — are so popular, hiding your identity, location and IP address so they can’t be tracked. IPVanish has a deal on a one-year subscription to its top-tier secure VPN service, just $29 (79% off) — but you need to act today!
It takes more than a private internet browser to surf the web without a trace. IPVanish provides a secure environment for everyday internet activity. Once you establish a VPN connection, all of your online traffic — web browsing, video streaming, messaging, file-sharing, and more — pass through its encrypted tunnel, while your identifying IP address is concealed....
| Read more »Apple and Google have partnered on offering a secure and private coronavirus contact tracing implementation on iOS and Android. Follow along for how to turn on/off COVID-19 contact tracing on iPhone in iOS 13 as well as iOS 14.
The post How to manage COVID-19 exposure notifications on iPhone appeared first on 9to5Mac.
| Read more »Apple plans a series of new M1 Mac processors for introduction as early as 2021 that are aimed at outperforming Intel’s fastest, reports Bloomberg. They’ll be used in updated MacBook Pros, iMacs, and a new Mac Pro workstation.
If they live up to expectations, they’ll “significantly outpace the performance of the latest machines running Intel chips,” according to “people familiar with the matter who asked not to be named because the plans aren’t yet public.”
The Sellers Research Group (that’s me) thinks we’ll see new iMacs (at least a 24-inch model and, hopefully, a 32-incher) and MacBook Pros (14-inch and 16-inch) in the first half of 2021. All will sport completely new designs. I expect the Mac Pro workstation not to arrive until late summer or early fall along with a redesigned...
| Read more »One of the headline features of the iPhone 12 lineup was, of course, 5G support. I said beforehand that 5G coverage is barely a thing yet, even in London – and subsequent tests have demonstrated I was right.
I’ve been conducting periodic speed tests at various locations in central London, and while it does occasionally deliver impressive speeds, this is far from the norm …
The post iPhone 12 Diary: As expected, 5G coverage means little as yet appeared first on 9to5Mac....
| Read more »Apple is getting closer to being able to offer a bundle combining its hardware and software services in a single package, Loup Ventures analysts believe, suggesting the company may provide more options for consumers to acquire an iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch via a hardware subscription.Presently, Apple offers the iPhone Upgrade Program to consumers, enabling participants to pay a monthly subscription fee to possess a current-generation model of the smartphone, and to update it each year as newer models come out. According to analysts Gene Munster and David Stokman of Loup Ventures, this could be expanded to cover other hardware, and possibly even software services like...
| Read more »A breakthrough in CRISPR gene editing for patients with blood diseases shows the promise and problems with the new technology, according to the New England Journal of Medicine (as seen by Science Mag). Researchers from CRISPR Therapeutics engineered...
| Read more »When it comes to Apple’s MagSafe Duo Charger, the design, as you might expect from Apple, is elegant. It easily folds, which makes it great for taking on the road. If you own an iPhone 12 model and an Apple Watch, that convenience might make this a good purchase for you. Otherwise, this product is too pricey for what you get.
For instance, the MagSafe Duo Charger doesn’t come with a power adapter, so, if you don’t own one, you’ll have to buy one ($19 for Apple’s 20W USB-C model and $49 fo rate 30We version). Really, Apple? You couldn’t throw in a power adapter at the price you’r asking for the Duo Charger?!
The MagSafe Charger can charge an iPhone 12 at up to 15W with Apple's 20W USB-C charger. However, if you use the 20W USB-C charger with the MagSafe Duo, an iPhone 12 will be limited to a maximum of 11W. You can use a 27W+ charger instead...
| Read more »Have you downloaded third party apps on the Apple Watch only to find after a while that you don't use them very much and want to hide their icons? Here’s how:
Touch and hold an app icon from the Home screen and press the red X next to it. Or you can go to the Apple Watch app on your iPhone and show/hide apps from the My Watch section.
Even though you've removed their Watch interfaces, the apps will remain installed on your iPhone unless you delete them from that device, as well.
You can also rearrange apps on the Watch’s screen. You can do it directly from the smartwatch by pressing and holding an app’s icon, then moving it to anew spot. Or you can go to My Watch on the iPhone, then to App Layout. There you can arrange your apps as you wish.
(This how-to is based on my experiences and info on Apple's support pages — where the images sometimes come from.)
| Read more »Users who rely on the Preview app in macOS for viewing PDFs report that a minor change is causing major headaches. Fortunately, there’s an easy fix.
The Save as PDF option in Print lets you set granular security on a created document.
To read this article in full, please click here
| Read more »Apple's short-term plan for Apple Silicon is reportedly a larger MacBook Pro and iMac refresh in 2021, with a Mac Pro with up to 32 high-performance cores coming at some point in 2022.Apple's current Mac ProBacking up recent claims that Apple is designing an Apple Silicon-powered Mac Pro that is half the size of the Intel one, new reports say the company plans dramatically improved Mac processors. These include a potential 32-core Mac Pro in 2022, and an iMac in late 2021.
| Read more »Although ABC won't be showing the famous Christmas Charlie Brown special this year, it will be available on Apple TV+, and it gets a showing on PBS too."A Charlie Brown Christmas" on Apple TV+It's gone from its traditional spot on ABC's schedules, but "A Charle Brown Christmas" can still be a fixture of the holiday season — for free. While Apple TV+ subscribers can watch any time, Apple is also making it free for a certain period. Plus PBS gets to air it once as well.
| Read more »The White House has quietly allowed Friday’s TikTok deadline to lapse, without taking any action against the app. A US ban on the app was supposed to take effect on September 28, but was twice extended before … nothing.
Trump made unsubstantiated claims that the highly popular video-sharing app posed a risk to US national security, and said it would be banned in the US unless it were sold to an American company …
The post Trump administration quietly lets...
| Read more »Best Buy has launched a new 4-day Apple Sales event featuring some of this year’s best prices on iPads, Apple Watches, Macs, and more. If you missed out on some of the best deals back on Black Friday, this may be your last chance at a reprise before Christmas. Free shipping is available for all. Down below you’ll find all of our top picks from this 4-day sales event.
The post Best Buy 4-day Apple sales event takes $100 off Apple Watch, iPad Air, more appeared first on 9to5Mac.
| Read more »President-elect Joe Biden reportedly uses Apple News to monitor the world's media, with the app used to collate headlines alongside reading other major outlets.President-elect Joe BidenA change of world leader typically means there will be an alteration in working practices, as well as suppliers and sources for specific tasks. In a column about Biden's media consumption, it seems that Apple News is a key media aggregator for the President-elect's media consumption.
| Read more »Apple has been granted a patent (number 10,852,553) for an electronic device with a “tunable lens.” It involves the rumored “Apple Glasses,” an augmented reality/virtual reality/mixed reality head-mounted display.
Like others of its kind, Apple’s HMD will sport optical systems with lenses. The lenses allow displays in the devices to present visual content to users.
Head-mounted devices typically include lenses with fixed shapes and properties. Apple says that if care isn’t taken, it may be difficult to adjust these types of lenses to optimally present content to each user of the head-mounted device. The tech giant wants its HMD to avoid such problems.
Here’s Apple’s summary of the invention: “A lens module in a head-mounted device may include a fluid-filled chamber, a semi-rigid lens element that at least partially defines the fluid-filled chamber, and at least one actuator configured to selectively bend the semi-rigid lens...
| Read more »Apple has posted a singalong video promoting its Apple TV+ animated series, “Stillwater.”
Here’s how Apple describes the show: Based on the Scholastic book series “Zen Shorts” by Jon J Muth, ‘Stillwater’ is produced by Gaumont and Scholastic Entertainment and centers on siblings Karl, Addy and Michael, who are typical kids with typical kid challenges – meaning that sometimes even the smallest things can feel insurmountable. Fortunately for these three, they have Stillwater, a wise panda, as their next-door neighbor. Through his example, stories and gentle humor, Stillwater gives the children a deeper understanding of their feelings as well as tools that help them face their own day-to-day challenges. Stillwater also brings newfound fun and adventure for the three, opening their eyes to the quiet wonders of the world around them, and guiding them to their place within it.
... | Read more »A second season of Apple TV+’s “Tehran” series is in the planning stages, Julien Leroux, CEO and founder of Paper Entertainment, told Variety. However, he adds that “it’s not been officially green lit, but we are working on it, so hopefully we’ll have some good news by the end of the year.”
In his former role as senior VP of global scripted co-productions for Cineflix Media, Leroux was responsible for spotting and selling “Tehran” worldwide.
Here’s how Tehran is described: Tasked with disabling an Iranian nuclear reactor, her mission has implications not just for the Middle East, but for the rest of the world. But when the Mossad mission fails, Tamar goes rogue in Tehran as she rediscovers her Iranian roots and becomes romantically entwined with a pro-democracy activist.
Apple TV+ is available on the Apple TV app...
| Read more »The M1 chip in the entry-level MacBook Air, MacBook Pro and Mac mini lines already rivals high-end Intel CPUs. But a new report from Bloomberg indicates that Apple is confident it can fully leave Intel in the dust, as it works on next-generation Apple Silicon chips with higher power budgets.
Bloomberg says Apple is working on successors to the M1 with up to 20 CPU cores, made up of 16 high performance and 4-efficiency cores. In 2021, the company is expected to roll out ARM versions of the higher-end MacBook Pro, “both entry-level and high-end iMac desktops”. An ARM Mac Pro is scheduled to follow in 2022.
The post...
| Read more »As 2021 peeks its head over the horizon (and with it, hopefully, an upward swing at last), it's time to cast our glances to the year ahead.
While Apple has no shortage of priorities for the next 12 months, one area that seems as though it might get more attention than usual is the company's main digital storefront, the App Store. Services continue to be good business for Apple, and the App Store is a major component of that market, but it's also not without its challenges.
Apple has already instituted some changes to its long-running App Store practices, and recent developments have also made it clear that further changes are likely on the way. So what do we have to look forward to in 2021?
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| Read more »If your iPhone 11 display is giving you trouble, this is going to come in handy. Apple on Friday launched a worldwide repair service program for iPhone 11 handsets experiencing a display module issue that causes screens to stop responding to touch input. The “iPhone 11 Display Module Replacement Program for Touch Issues” covers models […]
| Read more »It’s a quality product in general, but not the right choice for computers or home network gear.
| Read more »Communication troubles between HomeKit and Meross’ app hamstring setup.
| Read more »So you have an iPhone 8 or 8 Plus laying around, and you’re wondering what it’s value would be if you were to trade it in. Great, you’ve come to the right place! You might be surprised how simple it is to ditch your old iPhone 8 or 8 Plus and get on with updating to the latest iPhone. But first, let’s find out how much it’s worth and how to get the most value for your trade.
The post How much is your iPhone 8 / 8 Plus worth right now? appeared first on 9to5Mac.
| Read more »Apple introduced a number of changes to Voice Memos in macOS Big Sur, including Enhanced Recording and Smart Folders. Here's how to get to grips with the latest add-ons to the memo-recording software.Voice Memos in macOS Big SurAs part of the shift towards Mac Catalyst apps in macOS Big Sur, Apple has updated its Voice Memos app on both iOS 14 and macOS simultaneously with the same new features. The changes make Voice Memos a more powerful tool for quickly making voice notes, from both your iPhone and the Mac itself.
| Read more »China’s official digital currency is now usable in a meaningful way... more or less. Reuters reports that JD.com now accepts digital yuan for some purchases at its site, making it the first online platform to take the virtual money. You’ll need to ha...
| Read more »Users familiar with the Apple Magic Keyboard will fall in love with the Keychron K1 with its slim design and comfortable typing experience.The Keychron K1v4 is a slim mechanical keyboard with a great designKeychron is a popular mechanical keyboard manufacturer with multiple design types and customization options. The most popular model is the larger Keychron K2 which AppleInsider reviewed at 4.5 stars.
| Read more »The new James Bond flick No Time To Die might be stuck in limbo thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, but you will have plenty of spy action to watch in the meantime. SlashFilm and io9 report that YouTube and MGM are now offering the first 19 James Bond m...
| Read more »It’s snowing in the Apple Store app!
One time-honored tradition at Apple is placing an Easter egg in an app or even the firmware of a device. Wikipedia describes these as “a message, image, or feature hidden in a video game, film, or other, usually in electronics, medium”. For example, some early Macs in the 1980s had a bitmapped photo of the Mac development team in firmware that could be accessed by typing a special code. The tradition continues today with a fun Easter egg in the Apple Store App.
Launch the app and enter “let it snow” in the search field at the top of the screen. Immediately, light gray “snowflakes” begin falling at random all over the screen. The effect continues as long as you have the app open.
Fortunately, the snow doesn’t pile up, nor does it need to be shoveled. Enjoy this Easter egg and let it get...
| Read more »Dealerships might hamper GM’s plans to electrify its cars. Wall Street Journal tipsters claim that roughly 150 GM dealerships in the US have decided to drop the Cadillac brand and accept a buyout (ranging from $300,000 to over $1 million) rather than...
| Read more »In this week’s top stories: Apple Music Replay and Spotify Wrapped go viral, 2021 rumors about mini LED, the App Store Small Business Program, and more. Read on for all of this week’s top stories.
The post This week’s top stories: Apple Music Replay and Spotify Wrapped, 2021 Mac lineup, more appeared first on 9to5Mac.
| Read more »Chrome extensions don’t normally create much drama, but one company’s add-ons appear to be stirring up plenty of trouble. The Wall Street Journal has learned that Google is considering “severe penalties” against internet giant IAC (InterActive Corp)...
| Read more »Apple this week officially announced its 2020 App Store Best award winners, recognizing outstanding apps and games for iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Apple TV, and Mac. This year, Apple also the winners with a physical award. Here’s what it looks like in the real world.
The post Here’s what Apple’s physical App Store award looks like in the real-world appeared first on 9to5Mac.
| Read more »A prototype version of the Macintosh Classic has surfaced on Twitter, with images showing the antique Mac in an completely clear enclosure used to show internal clearances during development.The Macintosh Classic with a clear casing [@DongleBookPro]The Macintosh Classic is a familiar vintage computer that is known for its classic design, as well as its grey casing. In images shared by "@DongleBookPro" on Twitter, Apple used a different casing style during its development.
| Read more »You won’t want to get your hopes up for a 2021 Fortnite World Cup — or any other in-the-flesh Fortnite competition, for that matter. Epic Games has revealed that it “do[es] not plan” to hold any in-person Fortnite tournaments in 2021. Instead, it’ll...
| Read more »Apple and other tech giants may have to alter how they promote their own apps on platforms they control, with the EU competition head hinting at rule changes that could be revealed before the end of 2020.The European Union is working on updating the Digital Services Act, a set of rules dictating how platforms like the App Store are protected, as well as governed. As part of the reformation effort, which could include alterations to how content is handled, there could be rules that advise how platform owners present services they also operate.European Commissioner for Competition Margrethe Vestager told CNBC on Friday that changes will include elements concerning self-...
| Read more »It’s that magical time of year again! Thanksgiving is now behind us and those folks who travelled to see family during the holiday haven’t gotten their positive COVID tests back yet, so everything still seems rosy. Now, before spending the second hal...
| Read more »SpaceX’s crewed flights have garnered the most attention lately, but the uncrewed variety is about to retake the spotlight. The company is launching its updated cargo Dragon capsule for the first time at 11:17AM Eastern from the Kennedy Space Center...
| Read more »The Backbone One combines slim and modern controller design with specialized software for a complete handheld gaming experience.The Backbone One brings the console experience to iPhoneModern mobile gamers may have grown accustomed to touchscreen controls, but nothing beats a physical controller. The Backbone One takes on a familiar form factor with some baked-in software that rounds out the console experience better than any iOS controller before it.
| Read more »One of the industries I started paying attention to more in 2020 was the world of robot vacuums. After picking up a Neato D7 and Roborock S6 Max earlier this year, I’ve decided that I am finished with regular vacuum cleaners, and automated ones are the future for my family. Since August, I’ve been testing out the 360 S9 Robot acuum, so read on to see how it compares to the ones I already use.
The post Review: 360 S9 can automate your daily vacuuming for a cleaner home using LiDAR technology appeared first on 9to5Mac.
| Read more »Many companies large and small use the SalesForce cloud-based Customer Relationship Management app to help them initiate, track and close deals. Being a Certified SalesForce Administrator can be your ticket to a new career, and our Salesforce Administrator Certification Practice Tests and Course Bundle ($19.99) can help you pass the exam on your first try.
Salesforce Admin Certification is for the Salesforce administrators to validate their knowledge of Salesforce applications, configuration, and management of Salesforce with additional capabilities. This bundle gives you a 3-hour course to help you prepare...
| Read more »A ban on the social video service TikTok won't be enforced by the U.S. government, a report claims, with the ban being overlooked while talks between the two parties continue in earnest.In late November, ByteDance was given a seven-day extension to divest its holdings in TikTok's U.S. arm, which ran out on December 4. Following the passing of the deadline, nothing has happened to the social network, and it seems that it may stay that way for a while at least.Unidentified sources of Bloomberg claim that TikTok would not be given a new deadline or be banned, but instead the situation would be maintained. The limbo would continue while TikTok talks to the U.S. government about a sale that would satisfy national security concerns of the Trump...
| Read more »Arrest made in Atlanta Apple Store shooting, a caning for an iPhone thief in Nigeria, a man accused of thefts in Canada said to wipe iPhone to cover his tracks, and more in the Apple Crime Blotter.The Apple Store at Lenox Square in AtlantaThe latest in an occasional AppleInsider series, looking at the world of Apple-related crime.
| Read more »Update 9:42am ET: Amazon is now matching the $900 sale price on the Roomba S9+ and the $700 sale price on the S9.The holiday shopping season is a great time to find a robot vacuum at a good sale price, and one of iRobot’s most advanced devices is $20...
| Read more »PCMag.com's lead mobile analyst calls Qualcomm "a little too unbothered by Apple's M1 Macs"
Qualcomm executives brushed off a question about Apple's new M1-based Macs during a question-and-answer session at the company's Snapdragon Summit today, where Qualcomm announced a new flagship smartphone chipset but no upgrades to its year-old chips for PCs... In general, reviews of Qualcomm-powered laptops such as the Microsoft Surface Pro X have celebrated the devices' long battery life, but lamented problems with third-party apps that were originally coded for Intel processors. That stands in stark contrast to Apple's new M1-based Macs, which don't seem to be slowed down as badly by older software...
"It's a great validation of what we've been doing for the past few years and [Qualcomm's product line] is just going to get stronger and stronger as we broaden our scope," said Alex Katouzian, Qualcomm SVP for mobile. Katouzian made sure to subtly call out ways in which...
| Read more »Apple's new M1 Mac mini offers users an affordable entry point into the Mac universe, and B&H is offering readers exclusive savings on the spacious 512GB model.Save on Apple's M1 Mac miniM1 Mac mini deals are plentiful this holiday season, but one standout offer is B&H's exclusive $70 discount* on the Late 2020 M1 model with 8GB of memory and a 512GB SSD. This model offers double the amount of storage compared to the standard model and is equipped with Apple's brand-new M1 chip.
| Read more »Winners named in Apple's "App Store Best of 2020" list have started to post images and videos of their physical award, an aluminum version of the App Store icon.On Wednesday, Apple announced 15 apps and developers as the winners of its annual App Store awards, with the "Best of App Store 2020" celebrating the most popular and best apps within the digital storefront. For the first time, award winners had more than praise from Apple and promotion for their endeavors, with a physical award being mailed out to each victor.Naturally, recipients have started to post images of their trophy to social media, with some giving a good and close look at the artifact. Inspired by the blue App Store icon, the award is made from 100% recycled aluminum, with the full icon on one side while the winner and category are...
| Read more »Naughty Dog has a new co-president, and it’s the creative director behind some of its most popular titles. The company has announced that Neil Druckmann, who led the development for The Last of Us franchise as well as for Uncharted 4, has been promot...
| Read more »The Voyager probes are still contributing to science over 40 years later and billions of miles from home. Researchers have detected a new form of cosmic ray electron burst using instruments aboard Voyager 1 and 2. Coronal mass ejections from the Sun...
| Read more »If you’re having trouble accessing the App Store Connect this Saturday, you’re not alone. Apple has just confirmed an outage that is affecting multiple developer tools, including the App Store Connect, Feedback Assistant, account management, and more.
The post PSA: Apple confirms outage affecting App Store Connect and other developer tools appeared first on 9to5Mac.
| Read more »Phone makers have tried eliminating unsightly selfie cameras by hiding them under the display or even flipping up the rear camera, but Oppo may solve that through an unusual method: putting the camera in your hands. According to 91Mobiles, Oppo is pa...
| Read more »AppleInsider readers looking for the best deal on a new M1 MacBook Pro can save a bundle this weekend, with the 512GB model now $150 off on top of $60 off AppleCare.M1 MacBook Pro couponThe steeper holiday discounts are valid this weekend at Apple Authorized Reseller Adorama. Using our special pricing link and coupon code APINSIDER, bargain hunters can save $150 on the M1, 8GB, 512GB model in your choice of Space Gray (MYD92LL/A) or Silver (MYDC2LL/A), bringing the price down to $1,350.
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| Read more »WarnerMedia might not be content to pin most of its streaming hopes on HBO Max. As Gizmodo reports, The Information sources claim WarnerMedia is discussing launches for two more streaming services. One would be a paid CNN service that might ditch the...
| Read more »Japan’s Hayabusa2 probe has successfully returned an asteroid sample to Earth more than a year after first touching down on Ryugu. JAXA has confirmed that the sample capsule touched down in Australia in the early morning of December 6th local time. T...
| Read more »9to5Mac reports that Apple announced a repair program for "a small percentage" of iPhone 11s manufactured between November 2019 and May 2020 where the display stops responding to touch:
The replacement program is exclusive to the regular iPhone 11 model and does not apply to the iPhone 11 Pro or iPhone 11 Pro Max. Users can check the Apple Support website to find out if their iPhone 11 is eligible for the replacement program using its serial number... Apple will replace the affected iPhone 11 for free.
The repair program covers affected iPhone 11 models for two years after the first retail sale of the unit. Apple may refuse free technical support for devices with physical damages.
| Read more »Belkin's new car mount is the first official third-party MagSafe mount to start shipping, but with limited functionality, it isn't quite as "pro" as we were hoping it was.The new Belkin MagSafe car mountApple's new MagSafe technology has opened up the floodgates to a whole new ecosystem of accessories that connect to or charge iPhone 12. As the accessory world was largely surprised by MagSafe, no accessories were ready to go with the launch of iPhone 12, sans a few select Apple partners.
| Read more »The iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max are similar phones, but with several key differences other than screen size. Read on as we walk through all the differences between iPhone 12 Pro vs. iPhone 12 Pro Max and which you should buy this holiday season.
The post iPhone 12 Pro vs. iPhone 12 Pro Max: Which should you buy this holiday season? appeared first on 9to5Mac.
| Read more »The DIY spirit is alive and well these days, especially with individuals who have a technical mind. Regardless of age, these people enjoy working on and completing projects — they just need the resources, tools and a bit of direction to make it happe...
| Read more »Yesterday evening, Apple launched a new repair program for a small percentage of iPhone 11 devices affected by touch screen issues. For affected devices, Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider will provide service, free of charge. Here’s how to check to see if your device is eligible.
The post How to check if your iPhone 11 is eligible for Apple’s new display module replacement program appeared first on 9to5Mac.
| Read more »Tesla might have hiked the price of Full Self-Driving for many customers, but others are getting a break. Electrek has discovered that Tesla quietly cut the price of a Full Self-Driving upgrade to $5,000, a $1,000 drop, for customers who bought Enhan...
| Read more »Apple's new 8th Generation iPad is back on sale for $299 at Amazon, with inventory expected to be in stock by Dec. 13 for Christmas gift-giving.10.2" iPad holiday dealsBlack Friday may be over, but some of Amazon's best Apple deals remain available as shoppers look to wrap up holiday gift giving in a season filled with inventory constraints.
| Read more »While Wacoms are effectively a standard tool for digital artists, rivals such as the XP Pen Pro 24 offer a budget-conscious alternative. AppleInsider handed over the cheaper rival to a webcomic artist to see if it stands toe-to-toe.Editor's Note: Author and artist Brian Patterson, who has recently wrapped up a 10-year run of webcomic D20Monkey.com, worked with AppleInsider on this review.It is a different era for art and illustration, and for quite a few years, many artists and illustrators (both hobby-enthusiasts and professionals alike) have made the transition from traditional pen, ink, and paint over to a purely digital workflow.
| Read more »Apple has released a singalong video promoting its Apple TV animation "Stillwater," compiling clips from the show accompanied by the full version of its theme song performed by Kishi Bashi.The two-and-a-half-minute video, posted to the Apple TV YouTube channel on Friday, plays through the entire Kishi Bashi song "Never Ending Dream," an easygoing folk tune. Karaoke-style lyrics accompany the singing at the bottom of the screen throughout the video.The release of the video coincides with "Stillwater" being available to view on Apple TV+, with viewers offered six episodes of the relaxing animation series. The show is based on the Scholastic book series "Zen Shorts" by Jon J Muth, and aims to teach younger viewers the ability to manage their emotions.
... | Read more »Although last week was a short one due to the holiday, we still spent time reviewing some new gadgets like the Akai MPC Live II controller and the Logitech Folio Touch iPad Keyboard. The former is a highly portable, all-in-one production device with...
| Read more »Long disparaged by the Baby Boomer generation as either a childish distraction or a leading cause for the downfall of civilization, video games have weathered that criticism and grown into the dominant storytelling medium of the modern world — not to...
| Read more »Amazon workers alleging retaliation over whistleblowing and labor organization will get at least one day in court. BuzzFeed News has learned that the National Labor Relations Board has granted former worker Courtney Bowden a hearing before an adminis...
| Read more »Proving that some things will always stay the same, Apple dropped in a Friday night announcement about iPhone 11 screen repairs. If your device is one of the “small percentage” of units that experiences touch issues due to an issue with the display m...
| Read more »The new comedy of American declineMegan Garber, The AtlanticThe so-called American decline isn’t a myth. One study found that well over half of Americans think the US is on the downward slope. Fortunately, even as America’s exceptionalism has been la...
| Read more »A second series of the Apple TV espionage thriller "Tehran" is in development, a production company executive claims, with work being carried out on new episodes of the show ahead of being given the green light from Apple itself.Niv Sultan in 'Tehran' on Apple TV+Speaking at the Asian Television Forum in the Singapore Media Festival on Wednesday, Julien Leroux claimed "I can say that we are working on the second season" of "Tehran." Admitting to the audience "It's not been officially greenlit," Leroux says "We are working on it, so hopefully we'll have some good news by the end of the year."
| Read more »With the release of the new M1 Macbook Air, the final parts of the transition to Wi-Fi 6 are beginning for Apple. Today, the iPad Pro, iPad Air, iPhone 11, iPhone 12, M1 MacBook Air, and the M1 MacBook Pro all support Wi-Fi 6. Lacking support is the low-cost iPad, iPad mini, and all of the Intel Macs.
The post Apple @ Work: Now that the Mac supports Wi-Fi 6, it’s time to deploy in the enterprise...
| Read more »Have you ever organized a complex project by writing out tasks on sticky notes, then arranging them on a wall? That’s the simple idea behind HyperPlan for Mac and Windows from Oryx Digital, a powerful app for helping you get a handle on business and professional projects without a steep learning curve.
Got too much going on? HyperPlan is the no-frills, visually-appealing way to manage your personal and professional lives. If you’ve ever planned something by sticking notes on a wall and deciphering your own code, then you basically already know how to use HyperPlan. It’s that simple. HyperPlan operates on the idea that the human brain works best through visual processing,...
| Read more »Apple just upended the computer industry with its Apple Silicon M1 launch, it delighted developers with its first-ever App Store commission cut, and it struggled to get Big Sur out of the door."PC" has a few problems with the new M1 processor, revealed in November 2020Nothing ever happens in November, and anyway, if there are new Apple devices, they're just speed-bumped revisions. You can blame delays because of the coronavirus for making November 2020 a bit busier than usual — but we've never had speed bumps like this.
| Read more »Let the Apple Car rumors roll on. Apple has been granted a patent (number 10,850,666) for “windows with active layers” on a vehicle. It involves both front, back, and side windows, as well as a sun roof, with built-in, adjustable defrosting features and the ability to adjust the amount of sunlight they allow to pass through — all while looking good.
In the patent data, Apple note that vehicle windows sometimes include heating and light filtering components. For example, vehicle windows may include filter layers that block infrared light. Vehicle windows with infrared-light-blocking capabilities may help avoid excessive heat buildup in vehicles that are exposed to sunlight.
A rear window in a vehicle may use an ohmically heated wire for defrosting. A vehicle may have a sunroof window with an adjustable tint for selectively darkening or brightening of the interior of the vehicle.
However, Apple says it can be challenging to...
| Read more »On a regular basis, Apple World Today posts a list of notable new apps or app updates that have been released. They may not necessarily be new, but they're popular and deserve mention. Here are this week’s picks.
macOS
Zevrix Solutions has announced LinkOptimizer 5.4.23, a compatibility update to company's workflow automation solution for Adobe InDesign.
The utility handles automatic image conversion and InDesign link size reduction. LinkOptimizer resizes images to their InDesign dimensions, converts file formats, assigns color profiles and more. Version 5.4.23 adds support for macOS Big Sur.
LinkOptimizer 5.4.33 can be purchased from the Zevrix website for $259.95; a “lite” version is available for $179.95. A demo can be downloaded. The update is free for LinkOptimizer 5.x users and $130 to upgrade from previous versions....
| Read more »On a regular basis, Apple World Today posts a list of notable new apps or app updates that have been released. They may not necessarily be new, but they're popular and deserve mention. Here are this week’s picks.
macOS
Apptorium has announced Workspaces 2.0, an update to their desktop workspace management app for macOS.
Workspaces allows users to organize and save applications, files, folders, and more into individual projects (workspaces). Version 2.0 brings new features such as a redesigned user interface, plugins, quick searching, notes and more.
Workspaces 2.0 requires macOS 10.14 or newer. It costs US$19.99 and is available at the Apptorium website, SetApp, and the Mac App Store in the Productivity category. A trial download is available from the Apptorium website.
Reinvented...
| Read more »Call of Duty Black Ops Cold War launched last month and brought the shooter series to a new generation of consoles, and now its first major content update is about to arrive. While the “season one” batch of additions were scheduled to arrive on Decem...
| Read more »“A small percentage of iPhone 11” units suffer from touch issues, Apple says, and it’s swapping out their displays for free as part of a new replacement program. In its announcement, the tech giant admits that the screens on iPhone 11s manufactured b...
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